My 2ft x 1.5 ft x 1.5ft reef tank :)

[Jakuson]

Hi all,

I am starting a new tank setup and planning to use this tank mainly for zoas and probably a few small fishes.

Here is the setup after a tiring revamp of an old stand and tank that have been housing some freshwater fishes previously. I will be shifting my current running tank(2ftx1ftx1ft) which is inside the house to now this slightly bigger tank. It will be another tiring day tomorrow!

I am planning to put a DSB in the middle compartment of the sump and get chaeto to grow in there as well for nutrient export and it will also serve as a refugium for me to grow amphipods and copepods. I will not be using any skimmer and this will be my main nutrient export. Compartment to the right will be where all the filter wools and such to clean out all the dirt and waste of the fishes. I am wondering what critters I should be putting in the refugium to keep everything in check.. Any help and ideas are welcomed! Will update again tomorrow after I put everything into place.

Thanks for viewing!

[kaykay]

Can't help but notice this..

Why is the overflow pipe reduced to a smaller pipe size? It may choke up over time..

Or is it for the return?.. hmm..

Can I suggest this.. Turn the sump tank left-right.

The overflow pipe should not be stepped down. But let it overflow to the left (sump tank turned left-right). The return can then return straight up to reduce headloss due to less detours.

Skimmerless.. What if your macro algae does not work, any backup plans? You'll need decent lights and low flow for chaetos to flourish. Any ways to oxygenate the tank without a skimmer?

[Jakuson]

Thanks for the input..but this setup is all from my old setup last time which I have kept lps and soft corals and some fishes for like 3 years, everything was good.. Now I just making a comeback with the same setup.. hehe.. I have already put in water and stuff.. can't change anything already.. haha.. I have a skimmer if the macro algae does not work.. but I will be stocking super slowly.. so I don't think I will have to touch the skimmer at all..

Regarding the overflow pipe, I can't really change much, because the flowrate is just right for my return pump already at around 2500litres/hour.. the flow have been adjusted such that there is not groggling sound in the overflow and stuff like that.. so don't wanna mess it up since it is already good and been serving it's purpose for a good 3 years the last time I had this setup..

Would be great someone could donate or sell me some chaetos and teach me how to maximize their growth.. Don't really have much luck growing the chaetos the last time I tried, which was a few years back..

Will show the finish setup later in the day..

[Jakuson]

Hi all,

Here is the up and running tank after some tiring work! It looks pretty empty right now..

I am looking for chaetos and copepods and amphipods for my refugium.. Anyone have any to spare? I am currently running 2x T5HO aquaz super sun 12000k and it doesn't really bring out the zoa colours. Can anyone give me some suggestion on what combination of lights and which brand would be good? Here is a few pics of the zoa under my lighting. It's really bad...

[jxlex]

Skimmer? Not intending to use? Have to change water more often to export nutrients hor...

More liverock will be good... I personally dun like the use of filter wool...

Enjoy bro

[Jakuson]

Yeah.. Will be adding more liverocks.. still finding.. The bioload is really really small.. there is only 2 fishes and a few corals now... so I think it's still not too bad.. i am going to get chaetos and more sand(DSB purposes) for my refugium(middle part of sump) before adding more livestocks..

[Admiraltian]

Hi all,

Here is the up and running tank after some tiring work! It looks pretty empty right now..

I am looking for chaetos and copepods and amphipods for my refugium.. Anyone have any to spare? I am currently running 2x T5HO aquaz super sun 12000k and it doesn't really bring out the zoa colours. Can anyone give me some suggestion on what combination of lights and which brand would be good? Here is a few pics of the zoa under my lighting. It's really bad...

Try adding another 2 more tubes of actinic blues. ATI and D-D Giesemann are the top brands u can find here.

[Jakuson]

Was thinking of that as well, but I was thinking whether can if 2x T5HO is enough for the zoas? like maybe 1xactinic and 1xsupersun or something like that.. I have another question and that is whether actinic will aid in zoa growth or is it just for aesthetics purposes? Thanks for the advice Admiraltian.. appreciate it!

[Admiraltian]

Was thinking of that as well, but I was thinking whether can if 2x T5HO is enough for the zoas? like maybe 1xactinic and 1xsupersun or something like that.. I have another question and that is whether actinic will aid in zoa growth or is it just for aesthetics purposes? Thanks for the advice Admiraltian.. appreciate it!

If i'm not wrong, actinic is to help coral "glow" and blue light for beautifying and improves colorations, white lights help corals to grow and open up.

[Jakuson]

ok.. thanks alot for the info.. Will get some of those for my tank..